Wesley James "1997"

Portland artist and illustrator Wesley James (he/him) unleashes his bold, unruly world inside the Purple Door Gallery starting Friday, June 25. Raised in small-town Alaska and steeped in 70s nostalgia and outsider traditions, Wesley takes an unapologetic dive into the wild subconscious — where imaginary monsters and offbeat pop culture relics collide. And you’re invited to take the plunge too.

From acrylic on canvas to crayon on cardboard, his street-punk aesthetic brims with hyper detail, neon colors, and a sense of reckless fun that sparks the imagination and stays true to itself in every way. Each piece is raw, honest, and intuitive — a direct line from mind to material — with every little detail daring you to look closer and linger longer.